Kinetoscope.



No. 673,329. Patented Apr. 30; I90l. A. E. smm.

KINETOSCOPE.

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WITNESSES 2% f y' WW ATTY INVENTOR m. 673,329. Pmnm Apr. 30, 1am;

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WITNESSES V @4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SMITH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERI- CAN VITAGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

KINETOSCOP E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,329, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed March 15, 1900. Serial No. 8,732. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALBERT E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the boroug h of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Kinetoscopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to kinetosoopic appa- 1o ratus, and especially to the type of apparatus designed for exhibiting in rapid succession a series of photographs of moving objects whereby the motion of the objects is apparently represented on a screen, and more par ticularly to the means employed for adjusting the film whereby it may be kept in proper position with reference to the aperture in the diaphragm opposite the source of light and for protecting the film from injury in its passage from the feed-roll to the carrier.

The main part of the apparatus, consisting of the feed-roll, the lightand lenses, the guiding and propelling apparatus, the shutterclosing apparatus, and the means for producing the necessary intermittent motion of the film, are well known in the art and form no part of my present invention.

' In the usual form of kinetoscopes known to me the film-carrier and the light-aperture are fixed with respect to each other, except in cases where the intermittent illumination of the film is produced by the reciprocation of one or the other. The film-strip is usually provided with small holes at its edges and is drawn forward by the engagement of such holes with sprockets or spurs on drums suitably placed for such purpose and intermittently rotated. When it is desired to use such an apparatus, the film is adjusted from the feed-roll so that one of its sections, containing a single view, is directly opposite the light-aperture in the diaphragm. It not infrequently happens in use, however, that the rapid motion of the film as it is propelled past the aperture causes the holes on its edges to spring out of engagement with the sprocket on the propelling-drum. This immediately causes the picture projected on the screen to be out of register with the field of light or mat projected on the screen by the passage of the light through the aperture in the diaphragm and produces the effect exhibited in Figure 6 of the drawings, where parts of two sections of the film are thrown upon the screen instead of the whole of one section. Endeavors have been made to obviate this difficulty by adjusting the diaphragm (and the aperture) with respect to the base of the apparatus; but this tended to throw the mat up or down on the screen, and possibly outside of the field of vision altogether, because a slight displacement of the aperture means a great displacement of the projected mat because of the refraction of the light through the lens. Moreover, such methods are impracticable by reason of the fact that an accidental displacement of the film usually takes place when it is being rapidly moved, and the exhibition is spoiled if the performance has to be stopped to make such a nice adjustment. There is also a form of apparatus in which the film is not provided with holes on its edges, but its propulsion is secured by means of its passage between pairs of rollers. In such construction an adjustment of the film with respect to the light-aperture is secured by varying the distance between the rollers of one pair, and thus permitting the film to slip into the desired position; but such means of adjustment are not applicable to the usual form of film. It was desirable, therefore, to secure the relative adjustment of the sections of the perforated film and the light-aperture in the diaphragm by some means which could be employed without disturbing the action of the apparatus or stopping the exhibition. It is the purpose of my invention to supply such means, and this I do by separating the frame supporting the film-carrier and its connected mechanism from the support for the dia- 0 phragm and its aperture and source of lightsupply and providing a simple means of moving the first-mentioned frame with relation to such aperture, even while the motion of the film is continued, the film and the act-uat- 5 ing mechanism therefor being mounted upon the adjusting-frame.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved kinetoscope without a film, but showing the means for carrying the film I00 and propelling the same. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, showing the film, but

without showing the actuating mechanism of the film-rollers. Fig. 3. is a partial secand side view of the same, showing the filmcarrier in its uppermost position; and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the film-carrier in its lowermost position. Fig. is a vertical section on the plane of the line 5 5 in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an illustration of' the manner in which the film is at times out of register with the light-aperture in the diaphragm.

In the drawings, in which the same referonce-numerals refer to the same parts in all of the figures, 1 is an upright frame or board on which my apparatus is mounted. Above it is mounted in any suitable manner a feed or supply roll 2 of the film 3, on which the pictures have been made in successive sections 3* 3 3 3, &c. From the feed-roll 2 the film 3 passes to the film-carrier 4.; This carrier is made up of a frame 5, consisting of two standards 5 and 5 made of cast metal and one of the cog-wheel pinions which actuates the said guide-sprocket drum.

The standards 5 and 5 are rigidly bolted or otherwise secured by means of screws 5 to a rectangular frame 7, consisting of two vertical pieces 7 and 7", provided with longitudinal vertical slots 7 and 7 adapted to reciprocate with tongues 8, projecting from the edges of a guide-plate 8, rigidly secured to the frame 1 of the apparatus by-means of the screws 8".

The frame 7 is provided at about the center of its upper edge with the vertical rack 9, adapted to engage with the teeth of a segmental pinion 9 mounted upon an axle 9, adapted to oscillate in suitable bearings secured to the frame of the apparatus, the movement of the axle being secured by means of a handle 10 or similar suitable means.

The frame 7 is provided with a stop 11, consisting of a threaded rod placed within a threaded aperture in the lowermost member of the frame and adapted to abut against the fixed plate 8 when the film-carrier has reached its uppermost position.

The post or standard 12 projects outward from the plate 8 and supports at its outer extremity a vertical diaphragm 12*, provided with an aperture 12*, through which the light intended to illuminate the picture formed by the representations upon the film is adapted to pass. In front of this diaphragm 12 and mounted upon the standards 5 and 5 is a flat friction-plate 13, and in the front of this is a friction-plate 14, swung upon a pintle 14, secured in bearings upon the standard 5%. This friction-plate 14is supplied on its inner or under side with two friction-spring strips 14*, adapted to press against the film 3 when the latter is in position and against the surface of the plate 13 when it is not. Inan aperture in this plate 14 is mounted a guide-roller 15, its axle restingin bearings formed by two slotted brackets secured to the outside of the plate and held in position within the slots of these brackets by two springs 14, adapted to press against the axis ofthe roller.

1 Mounted upon the sides of the film-carrier isa train of gearing consisting of an actuating-wheel 16, (rotated by means of a suitable handle 16 or other source of power,) two pinions 16 and 16, a cog-wheel 16 and the actuating cog-wh eel'16 of ,the guide-sprocket 20 The pinion 16 is mounted upon an axle 16 adapted to rotate in a bearing formed by an aperture in the standard 5 and provided at its opposite extremity with a second cogwheel 16 adapted to mesh with another pin.- ion 16, which in turn communicates motion to an axle 16 adapted to rotate in bearings formed by suitable apertures in the standards' 5 and 5 upon which axle are mounted a Geneva gear 16 and a beveled pinion 16 The Geneva gear 16 intermittently rotates an axle 16 mounted in bearings formed in the standards 5 and 5 below the axle l6 Upon this axle 16 is mounted the sprocketdrum 17, directly back of the guide-roller 15 and provided with the sprockets 17", which engage with the holes in the film-strip and cause itsintermittent downward motion. The beveled pinion 16 meshes with another bev-, eledpinion 19, mounted uponthe outer end of a shaft revolving in a bearing provided by a bracket secured to the standard 5, and which shaft actuates a revolving shutter 19, which, rotating in a vertical plane, intermittently cuts off the light from the source of illumination to the aperture 12 in the diaphragm 12 The Geneva gear and shutter and their connections are well-known constructions and form no part of my invention.

A guide-sprocket drum 20 is mounted above the friction-plate 14 at the inner end of the axle 20, and a guide-roller 20 grooved to admit of the passage of the projecting'sprocks ets'on the-drum 20", is mounted upon an axle supported by the bracket 20, hinged in turn to two standards 20 and 20, mounted upon the cross-piece 5. The bracket 20 is held downward by means of the spring 20 thus pressing the guide roller 20? against the sprocket-drum 20*. 1

' In the actual operation of the machine the film 3 passes from the feed roll 2 to the sprocket-guide 20*, where the holes in the side of the film engage the sprockets on that guide, the film being held against the drum by the guide-roll 20*, under which it passes. It then passes over a loose roller 21, between the friction-plates 13 and 14, and under the roller 15 to the sprocket-drum 17, which by its intermittent forward motion, communicated to it guide and drum 17 by in the stationary diaphragm by the Geneva gear 16 is adapted to pull the film downward and to bring each of its sections in succession opposite the aperture 12 1%. It sometimes happens that the film, being composed of stifi celluloid, springs backward in its passage from the feed-r0112 to the guide-sprocket 20. It is then apt to strike against the adjusting-pinion 9. In order to avoid the injury which might result from such action, I have provided a shield over the pinion, consisting of two elastic pieces of metal 22 and 22, which, being placed between the film and the pinion, effectually prevents any contact between them.

The manner of operating this apparatus in making an exhibition is as follows: The film is first adjusted upon the sprockets of the means of the holes in the side of the film, so that one of the sections of the film coincides with the aperture 12 in the diaphragm 12. The actuatinggear being then set into operation, an intermittent rotary motion is-communicated to the lower sprocket-drum 17 and the film is drawn downward, so that each successive section is brought in front of the aperture 12 in the diaphragm 12 and permitted to rest there for an instant, the revolving shutter 19 shutting off the light which otherwise would pass through the aperture 12". The rapid projection of the pictures upon the successive sections of the film causes theillusion of the rep-- resentation of a moving scene upon the screen. Now if during the course of the exhibition it happens that the film should buckle and spring away from the sprocket-guide 20 when it is drawn forward again by the motion of the sprocket-dru m 17 it missesone of the sprockets in the guide 20 and then the sections of the film will no longer coincide or register with the aperture 12 in the diaphragm 12*. It will be remembered, however, that the diaphragm 12 is fixed. If, therefore, the handle 10, which actuates the pinion 9, be moved so as to bring the sections of the film as they are moved forward again in coincidence with the aperture 12 in the diaphragm 12 the mischief has been remedied and the picture no longer appears to be out of registry. It will be observed also that as the actuating mechanism of the film is all mounted upon the movable frame 4 no cessation of the forward motion of the film needs I to take place while the adjustment referred to is being made, invention had not a result which prior to my been accomplished.

What Iclaim as new is- 1. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a fixed apertured diaphragm, of a frame adapted to carrythe picture-film, actuating mech- 1 anism for the film, such mechanism being carried by said frame, and means for adjusting the position of the frame, the film and the actuating mechanism with respect to the diaphragm.

2. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a fixed apertured diaphragm, of a frame adapted to carry the picture-film and its actuating mechanism, and means for adjusting the position of the frame with respect to the diaphragm, consisting of a rack secured to the frame, a fixed pinion adapted to mesh with the rack and means for rotating the pinion.

The combination in a kinetoscope of a movable frame adapted to carry a picturefilm and its propelling mechanism and provided with a rack,'with a fixed diaphragm having a light-aperture and a support for said diaphragm, guides adapted to control the direction of motion of the frame and a pinion adapted to actuatethe rack and frame.

4. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a fixed diaphragm provided with an aperture adapted to admit of the passage of the light, and film-actuating mechanism, of means for adjusting the position of a picture-carrying film with respect to the aperture, consisting of a movable frame upon which are mounted the film and its said actuating mechanism, said frame being designed to move the film with relation to the diaphragm, guides adapted to control the direction of the movement of said frame and means for producing said movement.

5. In a kinetoscope, a frame adapted to carry the film, propelling mechanism for the film also carried by said frame, a frame adapted to carry the diaphragm and its light-aperture and means for adjusting the relative positions of the two frames and holding them in position after adjustment, the film and the light-aperture being moved one in relation to the other in the frame adjustment.

'6. In a kinetoscope, a frame adapted to carry the film and its propelling mechanism, a frame adapted to carry the diaphragm and its light-aperture and means for adjusting the relative positions of the two frames and holding them in position after adjustment, consisting of a rack secured to one frame and a pinion secured to the other and having an operating-handle.

Witness my hand this 13th day of March, 1900, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT E.'SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. STUART BLAOKTON, WM. T. BOOK. 

